VINDICATED
Davao City—World Boxing Organization’s (WBO) international light welterweight champion Jason “El Niño” Pagara proved he deserved to be sent to the US for a fight card there after scoring an impressive knockout victory over Cesar “El Dolar” Chavez in the main bout of Pinoy Pride 29: Fists of Fury at the University of Southeastern Philippines Gymnasium, here.
The 26-year-old Pagara scored a second-round KO win over Chavez on Saturday which justified promoter Michael P. Aldeguer’s big plans for the rising boxer.
ALA Promotions International had earlier announced that Pagara would be part of ALA Promotions’ first card in the US this May if he won impressively in Davao.
Pagara made sure the plan would push through, dominating his Mexican foe from the opening bell.
“This is for my family,” Pagara said of his huge win. “I am ready to take my career to another level.”
Pagara actually floored Chavez thrice in two rounds. The first was in the opening round, when he caught the Mexican with a left uppercut. The next was when Pagara unloaded a flurry of hooks with Chavez on the ropes. The final blow was at the 1:56 mark of the second round, which came from a well-timed left hook to the chin that sent Chavez down for good.
Pagara improved his record to 35 wins, 22 by knockouts, and two losses. Chavez suffered his eighth loss in 32 fights.
“We all know that he is a spectacular and exciting boxer. That’s why we decided to send him there (US) to answer everyone’s question if he’s really the real deal,” Aldeguer said.
Aldeguer said that aside from the May 23 San Diego fight card, there will also be two fight cards to be promoted in Carson City, California’s Stubhub Center in September and October.
Meanwhile, Genesis “Azukal” Servania defended his WBO intercontinental junior featherweight title but Aldeguer was not impressed with his performance.
Servania and Mexican Juan Luis “Perla Negra” Hernandez’s match lasted the full 12 rounds with the Filipino walking away with a unanimous decision win. The scores read 118-110, 117-111, 119-109 for Servania.
“This fight was not a good one for him,” Aldeguer said.
Servania, whose left eyelid was swollen after the bout, is the current number-one contender in his division with Cuban Guillermo Rigondeaux currently holding the WBO world title.
Servania logged his 29th straight victory with no defeats. Hernandez suffered his fourth loss in 22 fights.
Meanwhile, “King” Arthur Villanueva dominated former world champion Julio Cesar “Pingo” Miranda in a lopsided 10-round non-title showdown.
Two judges saw it 98-92 while one scored it 99-91 for Villanueva, who improved his unblemished record to 26 wins with 14 knockouts.
Miranda fell to 38 wins, 24 by knockouts, 11 losses and two draws.
Winners in the undercard were Boholano rising star Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo, who scored a technical knockout win over Thai Sukkasem Kietyongyuth in the fifth round, and Arjan “Spartan” Canillas, who knocked out Indonesian Stevi Ongen Ferdinandus in the fourth round.